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The Region of Peel has begun the provincially regulated Environmental Screening Process to support the planning phase for the development of the Peel Energy Recovery Centre in Brampton, Ontario.

The process began on May 29, 2014. As the screening continues, two comprehensive public information sessions are available on June 19, 2014 and June 24, 2014 for those who want to learn more about the innovative project.

The plan is for the 7795 Torbram Rd. facility to use an energy-from-waste technology to recover useable resources such as energy and recyclable metal from the waste that remains after residents reduce, reuse, recycle and compost. The facility is designed to handle a minimum of 300,000 tonnes of waste per year, powering at least 27,000 homes.

“Beginning the Screening Process is a key milestone for the project,” Norm Lee, director of Waste Management at the Region of Peel, says in a statement. “This is where the Region does an in-depth assessment to identify potential negative and positive environmental effects of the project and determine how best to mitigate them.”

The Environmental Screening Process will be carried out in accordance with the Waste Management Projects Regulation (Ontario Regulation 101/07) made under the Environmental Assessment Act and the Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Waste Management Projects. The Environmental Screening Process will assess the potential environmental effects of the proposed Peel Energy Recovery Centre through detailed studies focused on public health, local air quality, climate change, surface water, groundwater, natural environment, traffic and the economy. The results of these studies will be documented in an Environmental Screening Report, which will be released for public and agency review.

Design and construction is expected to start in 2017 and the new centre is expected to be operational by mid-to-late 2020. The facility will operate for 30 years or more, with regular maintenance and periodic upgrades.

When operational, the Peel Energy Recovery Centre will:

safely, reliably and responsibly process a minimum of 300,000 tonnes per year and up to 400,000 tonnes per year of garbage

produce enough electricity to power at least 27,000 homes a year

reduce waste-related greenhouse gas emissions by half compared to the current practice of hauling waste to an out-of-Region landfill

reduce the volume of waste being sent to landfill by up to 90 per cent

conserve fossil fuels that would have otherwise been used to produce the same energy and would have been required to haul this waste to landfill

“We want our citizens to come out to one of the public information sessions in June to learn more about the Project, ask questions and provide comments,” says Region of Peel Councillor John Sanderson, Chair of the Waste Management Committee. “We want people to talk with us about their interests and concerns.”

The Region is hosting the following public information sessions (drop-in-centre format):